Holy cow did I like this book! I was completely taken in by the characters, the setting, and the twists. I am not sure why I am surprised I read both “The Last Flight and The Lies I Tell” and gave them both a solid four stars! This starts out with the main character trying to survive a beating her reputation took and get back in the ghost writing. But when an offer is presented to her, she is hesitant to take it, I mean who wants to be a ghostwriter for their dad who is accused of killing his siblings?? However, knowing this might get her foot back in the door she has no choice but to meet with her estranged dad. As she peels back the story and layers of her dads life, she starts to feel that something is amiss. I did guess the ending, until I didn’t lol what a ride! Highly recommended! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher! My opinions are just that mine….

I was a big fan of Julie Clark's previous novels and was really excited to read this one -- this one didn't work as well for me as her past ones, and I am not sure exactly why.

I enjoyed the fast pace of the book, the narrative moves between characters and time periods and it kept me wanting to know more. It felt slightly repetitive and I never felt very connected to the characters. Olivia especially does multiple things that made me want to shake some sense in to her.

I will definitely read Julie Clark's next book as I do enjoy her writing and find her books so engaging!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!

I've loved Clark's previous books, but this is her best one yet!

Olivia Dumont is a ghostwriter who is estranged from her family for good reason. She is shocked when her father, famous author Vincent Taylor, hires her to ghostwriter his memoir. The biggest focus of his book? What really happened the night his two siblings were murdered 50 years ago, an unsolved case.

I loved the way the story was told, mixing flashbacks of Vincent's sister Poppy in the months leading up to her demise in with Olivia's present day investigating and writing. Vince is now struggling with Lewy body dementia, losing his memories and becoming an unreliable narrator, so Olivia is forced to find others who were alive and part of the story 50 years in the past. The mystery unspools slowly, with clashing narratives between Vincent's storytelling and what Olivia finds in Poppy's diary and film reels from that time. It left me feeling uneasy and unsure who to trust but fully intrigued. Fantastic plot, well paced, and with an ending that wrapped it all up neatly, this is a thriller I would absolutely recommend!

The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark is a fast-paced, twist-filled thriller that kept me hooked from start to finish. I especially enjoyed how the story unfolds through multiple points of view, adding depth and suspense with every chapter. The plot twists were unexpected and satisfying, making it a truly gripping read. Clark's writing is sharp and engaging—this book was impossible to put down! Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

I don’t know if I’ve ever read a book quite like this! There were parts that were such deeply moving family drama, but it was also an on the edge of my seat thriller! I loved everything about this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark | Sourcebooks Landmark for allowing me to read and review this book.
This is an much slower read than Clark's previous books.A good read, but not a must-read like her others.

Oh my god. What a mystery with a twist! I loved the story. It wasn’t as fast paced but was not boring. It was hard to put it down. There were 3 POVs. Two different timelines. It all came well together. Highly recommend!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review the ARC.

✨✨✨Tragic & Dramatic ✨✨✨

I really enjoyed The Ghostwriter, it was so good!!

This mystery/thriller/family drama grabbed my attention right away and kept my attention!! It was very fast-paced and intriguing.

This story is told in the present and in the past (1970s) with multiple PoVs and it was done incredibly well by the way! This book is twisty, tragic, thought provoking, dramatic, suspenseful, and atmospheric!!

This is the first book I’ve read from Julia Clark and I’m impressed. I loved it!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is expected to be released June 3, 2025.

I wish I could give this book more than five stars, it’s just that good! Olivia is tasked with ghostwriting her famous father’s memoir regarding a family tragedy. Secrets, lies, family relationships and murder! The plot is simply brilliant, the characters are so well developed I felt I knew them, and the writing is flawless. Easily the best book I’ve read so far this year. I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next in the series. I received a complimentary copy of this book and chose to write a voluntary, unbiased review.

WOW!!!! I absolutely loved this book. The story, the characters, it was so hard to put down. I was so excited and couldn’t hardly wait for this to be published so when I received an early copy I screamed! Thank you so so much. I would rate this 100 if I could!

first of all, thank you to netgalley and the publishers for an arc in exchange for an hoest review!

overall, this was a satisfying and well-done mystery - i wouldn’t classify it as a thriller because while there is action, it’s all taking place in the past and the general mission of the plot is to figure out what happened. that said, it does a really good job of keeping you guessing without introducing unnecessary twists or being something that you, as a reader, can’t largely figure out by the end.

i thought the writing overall was great, with compelling and well-developed characters. there were a few times the pace started to flag for me, but that could be a maddie issue vs. a writer issue. definitely would recommend this for mystery fans!

This one was definitely intriguing and I was hooked with the storyline. I felt as if the middle was a bit slow. I did enjoy the multiple POVs and the back and forth timeline. The twist was absolutely twisty in the end for sure. I will definitely read this author again!

Julie Clark is back with another un-put-down-able thriller. She doesn't use too much fluff to get the story across, which means you're constantly in the midst of the mystery. While the book felt a bit repetitive at times, it was still engaging and I just had to figure out how it ended.

This is Julie Clark’s best book. Wow - the weaving she did to tell a complicated story - it’s so good! The story of Olivia coming back to learn of her father’s family is a guessing game and a treasure hunt of epic proportions. Told in alternating perspectives - You’ll not see the ending coming your way. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

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Review:
My favorite aspect of Julie Clark's writing style is she wastes no time—she gives you just enough backstory to tether you to the narrative before plunging you deep into the bowels of the story. And "The Ghostwriter" is no different, investing the reader from jump with its fresh yet nostalgic dual-timeline, creating a true-crime lover's dream.

When Olivia Dumont, a struggling ghostwriter with famous lineage, is forced to confront her fraught family legacy in order to keep herself financially afloat. Dumont, the daughter of notorious horror writer, Vincent Taylor, has been hired to write her estranged father's final book, only to be pulled into the web of an old, unsolved murder, one that has loomed over her father for decades.

Clark's storytelling bends time and perspective to create a rich (and THRILLING) atmospheric mystery told through present-day narration, fragmented memories, and vintage video recordings. I felt whisked away to the 1970s, immersed in suffocating patriarchy, blurred lines, and toxic masculinity. Clark nailed the era and the vibe I'd imagine the 70s were like. Then she would warp the reader straight back to present day to detangle a fractured father/daughter relationship. The two timelines have their own identities yet belong together in tandem. Complicated, yes, but never clunky. Every character is a suspect, and just when you think you’ve figured it out…you haven’t. And the twist...well, that's all I'm saying. STELLAR twist work here.

"The Ghostwriter" is the best fictional Dateline you could imagine—equal parts sinister family drama and true crime spectacle—and you won't want to look away.

Thank you to Julie Clark, Sourcebooks Landmark, & NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my authentic review.

This was a fantastic twisty thriller that I couldn't put down. I loved the pacing and the movement back and forth in time. I really enjoyed the mystery and the fact that when I started it I wasn't sure it was going to be for me but quickly grabbed me and kept me turning pages. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion!

The Ghost Writer by Julie Clark pulled me in right away. What starts as a writing job turns into a deep dive into long-buried family secrets, and I couldn’t stop turning the pages. The twists were smart and unexpected, and the emotional layers hit hard. Clark’s writing is sharp and full of insight—some quotes really stuck with me. If you’re into mysteries with heart, this one’s totally worth your time.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC.

I was thrilled with this thriller!!  I haven't read one in a while, and it reminded me just how much I love a good, twisty mystery - especially from an author I already adore.  I'm so excited I got the chance for an early read.  
The story follows Olivia Dumont, a ghostwriter who's kept her true identity secret: she's the daughter of Vincent Taylor, a famous horror author who was once the prime suspect of his own siblings' gruesome murders.  With money running out, Olivia agrees to ghostwrite her father's final book - and what she thought would be a simple job quickly turns into something far more chilling.  As she digs into the past, she's forced to face long-buried family secrets and the ghosts that haunt  her legacy.
This book had such a great atmosphere - creepy, emotional, and suspenseful.  I did not see the twists coming, especially the ending.  It kept me on edge the whole way through.  I knocked off a half star just because I wanted a little more at the end, but overall, I loved it!  Highly recommend if you're in the mood for a dark, family-centered thriller that delivers big surprises. 4.5 stars!!

I really enjoyed Julie Clark’s
Last thriller and was very excited to read her latest!

I was very quickly invested in The Ghostwriter but by the 20% mark, not much else had happened and my interest started to wane. While I found the writing engaging, I found the plot less so. The pace felt slow and the story felt repetitive. I also didn’t fully believe a lot of what was happening which always pulls me from the story. With all that said, I did still enjoy this one- it’s just slower than most thrillers.

I think if you like thrillers- you will enjoy this one! Her last was better imo but I’ll continue to read what she comes out with.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

This book masterfully blends family drama, a unique mystery, and a shocking tragedy. While some twists may seem predictable, you’ll keep second-guessing yourself until the very end. The truth is revealed through shifting perspectives, and nothing is entirely reliable—especially the narrators.

The intricate portrayal of the father-daughter relationship and the mystery’s progression, unraveling like a treasure hunt, was utterly captivating. This book is a masterclass in suspense and emotional depth.